FAI: REPORT | Ireland 3-0 Gibraltar - 100 up for Jimmy

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Mikey Johnston and Evan Ferguson scored their first competitive goals for Ireland in the second-half, and Adam Idah scored his first competitive goal in additional time to give the hosts a much-needed victory in their bid to qualify for Germany.
Stephen Kenny made five changes from the side that post to Greece with Jamie McGrath, James McClean, Jason Knight, Dara O'Shea and Michael Obafemi all coming into the squad. McClean captained the side on a night in which he earned his 100th cap for the Republic of Ireland.
The first shot on goal came in the first minute when a cross into the Gibraltar area was met by Jamie McGrath, whose low effort was stopped by Coleing on the second attempt. Ireland kept pressing with Dara O'Shea having a shot on goal from the edge of the box, but his effort was well saved.
Following a brilliant pass from Jason Knight on the right, Michael Obafemi went close, but the ball narrowly avoided the on-rushing striker. When Evan Ferguson's curling effort had to be gathered on the second attempt, he forced a great Coleing.
He was to go close again as a McClean cross was met by the Irish forward, but his shot was just wide of the far post. McGrath forced another superb save from Coleing when his shot from the edge of the area was tipped over for a corner.
Early in the second half, a Will Smallbone free-kick deflected off the wall into the path of Mikey Johnston, who tucked it past Coleing to score his first senior goal for Ireland. They were to get their second after some patient build-up, Mikey Johnston and Jamie McGrath combined to give the ball to McClean, whose first-time cross was met by Evan Ferguson, who rose high to tip it beyond the oncoming Coleing.
In the space of 60 seconds, Troy Parrott, Mikey Johnston, and Dara O'Shea all had shots on goal, forcing Coleing into two superb stops to keep Ireland from adding a third. Following a goal effort by De Barr, John Egan was forced to make a defensive clearance for a corner.
This was followed by Hartman's goal effort from the subsequent corner, which forced Bazunu into a superb stop. Mikey Johnston almost scored a third after cutting in from the left and curling a shot just beyond the far post.
James McClean came agonisingly close to scoring on his 100th cap, but his shot was deflected by a corner. Jamie McGrath went close again from the subsequent corner, but his effort brushed the crossbar.
Evan Ferguson forced another fine save from Coleing, he was forced to scramble the ball behind following a precise cross from Alan Browne saw Ferguson head it powerfully towards goal.
Ireland added a third goal when McClean's cross found Adam Idah on the six-yard line and he nodded it past Coleing for his first international goal.
Republic of Ireland: Bazunu (GK), O’Shea, Egan, Cullen, Ferguson (Idah 83), Obafemi (Parrott 57), McClean ©, N. Collins (Johnston 46), Knight (Hendrick 83), McGrath, Smallbone (Browne 72).
Subs not used: Kelleher (GK) Travers (GK) Sykes O’Dowda, Molumby, Johnston, Lenihan, Scales
Gibraltar: Coleing (GK), Sergeant (Wiseman 46), Annesley, Pozo (Jolley 67), El Hmidi (De Barr 46), Bernardo Lopes, Hartman, Olivero, R. Chipolina (Mouelhi, 42), Ronan, Britto (Ballantine 72).
Subs not used: Banda (GK), Hankins (GK), J. Chipolina, Badr, Hernandez, J. Coombes, Peacock.
Booked: Sergeant (Gibraltar), Jolley (Gibraltar)
Sent Off: None
Man of the Match: Jason Knight
Referee: Marian Alexandru Barbu (ROU)
Attendance: 42,156



Ireland Category:
Senior Men


Choose Site:
Ireland


Match Preview / Report:
Match Report


Match ID:
Republic of Ireland - Gibraltar | 2024 - UEFA European Qualifiers | 2036362


Introduction:
With a 3-0 victory over Gibraltar, the Republic of Ireland collected their first points of the UEFA EURO 2024 qualification campaign.




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